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6Gilbert as DisrupterInformal Logic 44 (1): 507-520. 2022.Michael Gilbert’s multi-modal theory of argument challenges earlier accounts of arguing assumed in formal and informal logic. His account of emotional, visceral, and kisceral modes of arguing rejects the assumption that all arguments must be treated as instances of one “logical mode.” This paper compares his alternative modes to other modes proposed by those who have argued for visual, auditory, and other “multimodal” modes of arguing. I conclude that multi-modal and multimodal (without the hyph…Read more
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11Greek Scepticism: Anti-Realist Trends in Ancient ThoughtMcGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. 1990.The idea that Western philosophy is a footnote to Plato is simplistic and inaccurate. Much of modern and contemporary epistemology owes a debt not so much to Platonism or Aristotelianism as to their antithesis: scepticism. Recent discussions in the history of philosophy have sparked a great deal of interest in the ancient sceptics, but until now they have been misunderstood and the significance of their philosophy not fully appreciated.
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34The Toils of Scepticism.Greek Scepticism: Anti-realist Trends in Ancient ThoughtPhilosophical Quarterly 41 (165): 512-513. 1991.
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13Gilbert as DisrupterInformal Logic 43 (4): 507-520. 2022.Michael Gilbert’s multi-modal theory of argument challenges earlier accounts of arguing assumed in formal and informal logic. His account of emotional, visceral, and kisceral modes of arguing rejects the assumption that all arguments must be treated as instances of one “logical mode.” This paper compares his alternative modes to other modes proposed by those who have argued for visual, auditory, and other “multimodal” modes of arguing. I conclude that multi-modal and multimodal (without the hyph…Read more
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10Review of How Philosophers Argue: An Adversarial Collaboration on the Russell-Copleston Debate (review)Informal Logic 43 (1): 138-146. 2023.This article reviews Fernando Leal and Hubert Marraud’s How Philosopher’s Argue: An Adversarial Collaboration on the Russell-Copleston Debate (Springer 2022).
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6Gilbert as DisrupterInformal Logic 43 (4): 507-520. 2022.Michael Gilbert’s multi-modal theory of argument challenges earlier accounts of arguing assumed in formal and informal logic. His account of emotional, visceral, and kisceral modes of arguing rejects the assumption that all arguments must be treated as instances of one “logical mode.” This paper compares his alternative modes to other modes proposed by those who have argued for visual, auditory, and other “multimodal” modes of arguing. I conclude that multi-modal and multimodal (without the hyph…Read more
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40Auditory Arguments: The Logic of 'Sound' ArgumentsInformal Logic 38 (3): 312-340. 2018.This article discusses “auditory” arguments: arguments in which non-verbal sounds play a central role. It provides examples and explores the use of sounds in argument and argumentation. It argues that auditory arguments are not reducible to verbal arguments but have a similar structure and can be evaluated by extending standard informal logic accounts of good argument. I conclude that an understanding of auditory elements of argument can usefully expand the scope of informal logic and argumentat…Read more
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13Where Do Sounds Fit Within Informal Logic?Informal Logic 38 (3): 362-368. 2018.In response to commentaries by Eckstein and Kišiček, I argue that the study of auditory arguments is very much in keeping with the critical thinking ideals that motivate informal logic. In the process I support further research on sound figures and the meaning of sound that would enhance our ability to analyze auditory arguments.
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15Recent work on multimodal argumentation has explored facets of argumentation which have no obvious analogue in the written arguments which were emphasized in traditional accounts of argument. One of these facets is prosody: the structure and quality of the sound of spoken language. Prosodic features include pitch, temporal structure, pronunciation, loudness and voice quality, rhythm, emphasis and accent. In this paper, we explore the ways that prosodic features may be invoked in arguing.
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84Good Reasoning Matters!: A Constructive Approach to Critical ThinkingOxford University Press Canada. 2004.Now in its fifth edition, Good Reasoning Matters! is a practical guide to recognizing, evaluating, and constructing arguments. Combining straightforward instruction with abundant exercises and examples, this innovative introduction to argument schemes and rhetorical techniques will help students learn to think critically both within and beyond the classroom.
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Scepticism: A DefenseDissertation, The University of Western Ontario (Canada). 1982.Sceptical arguments have played a seminal role in the development of philosophical thought. The thesis considers traditional sceptical arguments and their application to a variety of issues. Four major topics--the external world, logic and mathematics, ethics, and the problem of other minds--are discussed in detail. Three other topics are discussed to a lesser extent. In each case, the dissertation defends the sceptical conclusion that it is impossible to build a rational basis for belief, and e…Read more
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Paul Kurtz, The New Skepticism: Inquiry and Reliable Knowledge (review)Philosophy in Review 13 101-103. 1993.
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67Logic, Art and ArgumentInformal Logic 18 (2). 1996.Most infonnallogic texts and articles assume a verbal account of reasoning which defines "argument" as a set of sentences. The present paper broadens this definition in order to account for "visual arguments" which are communicated with nonverbal visual images. Standard approaches to verbal arguments are extended in a way that allows them to explain and evaluate visual argumentation
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14This paper is an in depth discussion of the work on fallacies collected in the "Selected Papers" of Woods and Walton. While it defends many of their claims, it argues that they have not shown that their formal approach should be an integral part of that discipline we now call "informal logic".
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19The prodigious development of argumentation theory over the last three decades has raised many issues that challenge some of the long held assumptions that characterize the traditional study of argument. One of these issues is the role of emotion in argument and argument analysis. While rhetoric has, with its emphasis on persuasion, always recognized that emotions play some role determining which arguments we accept and reject, a long tradition sees appeals to emotion as fallacies that violate t…Read more
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33In the last quarter-century, the emergence of argumentation theory has spurred the development of an extensive literature on the study of argument. It encompasses empirical and theoretical investigations that often have their roots in the different traditions that have studied argument since ancient times – most notably, logic, rhetoric, and dialectics. Against this background, I advocate a “thick” theory of argument that merges traditional theories, weaving together their sometimes discordant a…Read more
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28Review of Douglas Walton, Chris Reed, Fabrizio macagno, Argumentation Schemes (review)Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews 2009 (2). 2009.
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178. Can Capitalism Save Itself? Some Ruminations on the Fate of CapitalismIn John Douglas Bishop (ed.), Ethics and Capitalism, University of Toronto Press. pp. 196-218. 2000.
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45Hilary Putnam on the End of ArgumentPhilosophica 69 (1): 41-60. 2002.We argue that Hilary Putnam's pragmatism provides an epistemological perspective which can help us understand--and can positively inform--the development of informal logic.
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1Douglas N. Walton, Informal Logic: A Handbook for Critical Argumentation Reviewed byPhilosophy in Review 10 (7): 294-296. 1990.
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6Skepsis pflegen: Die sophistische VortragskunstIn Markus Gabriel (ed.), Skeptizismus Und Metaphysik, Akademie Verlag. pp. 221-238. 2011.
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12Protecting One's Own: Hobbes, Realism and DisarmamentPublic Affairs Quarterly 2 (1): 89-107. 1988.
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